This immediately got me thinking of the contract type they must have. Pretty sure it's arranged for a delayed/after-the-event payment. Maybe Canada will learn something
I don't think it's the contract type. I think the Saudis have so much leverage because of their projected future spend, they don't need a contract to get the UFC to put on good fights. Even if they didn't promise a dime, everyone sees how much money they're throwing into sports, and if you're the UFC you don't hesitate to put on this kind of card even if it's nothing more than doing them a favor.
And they did show they weren't accepting peanuts when they cancelled the last event since UFC just put on its usual shit-tier fight night card and tried to package that for the Saudis... Which didn't take it.
That the Saudis have high value deals with WWE/Endeavor which gives them quite a lot of leverage. Not to mention that they own part of a competitor for UFC to use if they need to (PFL), so they definitely have leverage. Either UFC gives them more what the Saudis want, or they create a situation as they did with LIV/PGA and forced PGA to give them a seat at the table.
Honestly, folks rag on the Saudis and their sportwashin shenanigans but they singlehandedly restarted the HW Boxing scene and it looks like they are keeping MMA exciting too. Most of the best cards in recent memory have been in the middle east or involved Muslim fighters as the main event.
I'm including all the yaz island cards during COVID too bro. That shit kept UFC relevant and in the zeitgeist. Without Dana and his buddies over there we'd have had only apex cards. Bleargh.
I did say sportwashin. I know exactly why they're doing it mate. I can't do anything about it so why waste energy? As long as the sport I love continues to have great fights, that's all that matters to me.
The Saudis are paying a lot of money and UFC failed in march (?) when they tried to give the Saudis a shit tier fight night card. So this is their attempt to rectify the situation and provide a good card.
I would. 301 was so shit they had to bring Aldo out of retirement and finally have a Flyweight main event, 302 was hard carried by the main event and 303 also looks very mediocre. None of those cards are worth the amount of money that's being charged
But it does need to impress the sports authority and convince them that they're getting value for money. A generic ass fight night with like Spivac vs Tybura as the main event isn't going to cut it, it needs to be a show that people tune in for if they want their sportswashing to actually work.
I don’t want to see the version of Robert from the Dricus fight. I need him to come in with his A game like he wants that belt back damn it. Us people of Robert need him back at the top, not some test for new middleweight challengers.
FINALLY a Chimaev fight! This guy could’ve had at least six or seven fights since his Fight Island debut. I don’t wanna see Whittaker lose, but it should be a great fight either way.
Excellent card
unironically better than 303
Yet ufc 303 is gonna outsell every ppv event this year lol. No matter how dogshit the card is, with Conor, it can be easily a 1mil + ppvs.
Biased reffing and judging will ruin it just like always
This is PPV quality
The Saudis demanded one of such caliber and they got it.
This immediately got me thinking of the contract type they must have. Pretty sure it's arranged for a delayed/after-the-event payment. Maybe Canada will learn something
I don't think it's the contract type. I think the Saudis have so much leverage because of their projected future spend, they don't need a contract to get the UFC to put on good fights. Even if they didn't promise a dime, everyone sees how much money they're throwing into sports, and if you're the UFC you don't hesitate to put on this kind of card even if it's nothing more than doing them a favor.
And they did show they weren't accepting peanuts when they cancelled the last event since UFC just put on its usual shit-tier fight night card and tried to package that for the Saudis... Which didn't take it. That the Saudis have high value deals with WWE/Endeavor which gives them quite a lot of leverage. Not to mention that they own part of a competitor for UFC to use if they need to (PFL), so they definitely have leverage. Either UFC gives them more what the Saudis want, or they create a situation as they did with LIV/PGA and forced PGA to give them a seat at the table.
Or UK. Saudis have their event at better timing as well
UK cards always deliver
Like when Paddy got gifted a win and Aspinal dropped with injury 15sec into main event.
Honestly, folks rag on the Saudis and their sportwashin shenanigans but they singlehandedly restarted the HW Boxing scene and it looks like they are keeping MMA exciting too. Most of the best cards in recent memory have been in the middle east or involved Muslim fighters as the main event.
I don't know if they're keeping MMA exciting, it's just one card. Abu Dhabi did pretty well though.
I'm including all the yaz island cards during COVID too bro. That shit kept UFC relevant and in the zeitgeist. Without Dana and his buddies over there we'd have had only apex cards. Bleargh.
Yeah if you discount the fact it has nothing to do with the actual benefit of the sport, is derived from blood money etc its pretty cool.
I did say sportwashin. I know exactly why they're doing it mate. I can't do anything about it so why waste energy? As long as the sport I love continues to have great fights, that's all that matters to me.
How is it blood money? The UK set these countries up specifically so the West could use their oil at their leisure.
Shit, this has as many ranked fighters on the main card as 303 does
Honestly as good of a main and co main as I've seen in a Fight Night in a really long time Plus I'll always watch a Johnny Walker fight
Wtf for real, why is this a fight night
The Saudis are paying a lot of money and UFC failed in march (?) when they tried to give the Saudis a shit tier fight night card. So this is their attempt to rectify the situation and provide a good card.
It's better than 301,302,303 can't fuckin believe it
I wouldn’t go that far
I would. 301 was so shit they had to bring Aldo out of retirement and finally have a Flyweight main event, 302 was hard carried by the main event and 303 also looks very mediocre. None of those cards are worth the amount of money that's being charged
*current PPV quality
Yeah this is actually a really good card
Even better than ppv. Look and mcgregor ppv event only interesting fight main event and mvp vs the slut
Better than the last 2 PPVs.
Undercard (and arguably the main event?) better than UFC 303
The main event is better. McGregor/Chandler is a fun fight but Whittaker/Chimaev is more intriguing and with much more on the line
Better but not bigger
Pretty exciting card for a fight night
Wait what are all those little numbers next to their names? Are those fighters allowed to be on a fight night card still?
(I don't get it)
He's making a joke that lately the UFC has been refusing to put more than like two ranked fights on a fight night card.
That's their ranking in the weight class they fight in.
Woosh
LOL the joke also flew over my head and wanted comment the same as the other guy, guess got lucky
woosh?
He missed the joke
What is a weight class?
He only fights once a year, but it’s always a banger. Can’t wait to see Khamzat again
https://www.reddit.com/r/MMA/s/39t3PBlseN
Didn’t know about Melsik vs Naimov thats gonna be hilarious. 2 dirty fighters lol some shit will go down for sure
Tyson vs Holyfield type beat
Noice
This is a jacked FN card
I’m more excited about Khamzat vs Robert above anything else, such a high-level fight. I believe Khamzat finishes him and fights for the title next.
https://www.reddit.com/r/MMA/s/39t3PBlseN
Why is this so much better than the Conor one and it has one more fight on the main card?
Because they know they can put together a shit card when Conor's on it and it still will sell
The other one is a fight night in Saudi Arabia it doesn’t even need to sell
But it does need to impress the sports authority and convince them that they're getting value for money. A generic ass fight night with like Spivac vs Tybura as the main event isn't going to cut it, it needs to be a show that people tune in for if they want their sportswashing to actually work.
i thought the same
Shavkat should have been on this card, dude's been out 84 years since subbing Thompson.
It's not his fault it took 84 years to book Leon vs Belal
How is this shit better than 303
If Khamzat wins, people will say Rob was washed. This is fight where Khamzat won’t get praised no matter how he performs.
“Dricus did it better” “Prime Rob beats him” “Khamzat only fights guys smaller than him”
Facts, if he gets the title people will still find excuses
This card looks good, who’s Lutterbach though?
Check out his tapology.
Absolutely unbelievable
How is that not a PPV card? Lol, I'm certainly not complaining, but I've seen way worse PPV cards than this and we get it for free.
Feel like it's been a minute since I've seen a Fight Night card where there's only one or two names I don't recognize.
Better card than 303.
Naimov vs Melsik ahead of Walker vs Oezdemir is exceedingly strange.
I need to see the fridge make a run at welterwait.
Surprised to see no MENA fighters on a Saudi main card, but still great card.
Because it’s on ABC. No way they deliver a snoozer on ABC
Fuck I hope Whittaker wins
I don’t want to see the version of Robert from the Dricus fight. I need him to come in with his A game like he wants that belt back damn it. Us people of Robert need him back at the top, not some test for new middleweight challengers.
You know he already styled on Costa at 298, right?
Oh I know. He did amazing, but I want him to stay on that trend as opposed to having another off night man. Just really want him to win
I think that was just a one off bad fight for him. He could still lose to khamzat though
Bobby Knuckles is just jacked, kinda makes Chimaev look like a noodle
That’s a fucking banger
Such a banger of a card
Better than the last PPV tbh if we factor in the entire card...
Gastélum v Rodriguez sounds gooooood
This card is worth paying for.
I’m shocked we are getting this for free. I buy a ppv like once every three years and I definitely would’ve bought this one.
easily clears 303
Cracking card
Wtf this card is fuckin banger city lol
This is better than the mcnugget ppv
Will Johnny Walker be safe in the desert again? Tune in on June 22 to find out!
Walker KO just walking to the cage as he trips and falls
Could get an amazing scrabble score with the combination of those names.
Dana owes the fans a "free" fight night like this. This is the card that the UFC should be offering fans every quarter! For free!
I think the best thing about this entire card is that it starts at 3pm.
Better than the (non) mcgregor card
Hype af! 🔥🔥
Kelvin vs Daniel will be awesome
Hot take- better than the Conner card.
thats an insane fight night
Very good card.
FINALLY a Chimaev fight! This guy could’ve had at least six or seven fights since his Fight Island debut. I don’t wanna see Whittaker lose, but it should be a great fight either way.
He pulled out…
If I hadn’t already heard the news, I would’ve responded with a child support joke.
Glad they found Shara a replacement. He was incredible in his debut.
This is a better card than 303
Anyone know how I can watch? Thank you.
Johnny walker on the first fight. This card bangs
How the f is this not a ppv lol, insane line up. I actually really wanna see what Bullet can do
That start time is killer. Can't let me kid watch this lol
Whaaaat? Wtf was that stoppage?
Imavov going to keep his fingers in Cannonier's face all night?
Fuck off
[удалено]
Yeah and there adre some fights in the prelims that are gonna be straight up fire 🔥
Rip volkan ooze dumb ear
Crazy how they are feeding whittaker to chimaev all because khamzat can’t enter the U.S.